5 Reasons the Braves Should Not Make a Trade Before the Deadline

I have recently heard talk of the Braves considering making a trade before the non-waiver deadline on July 31st.

However, I do not think a trade would be helpful to the current situation the Braves are in.

Sure, it would be nice to have a center fielder who could hit, but there are drawbacks to this.

In this article, I will address these drawbacks, and discuss the five main reasons I believe a trade would do harm to the Braves.

1. Jair Jurrjens

It seems as though Jair Jurrjens is currently on the Braves trading block.

In my opinion, it would be terrible if the Braves were to trade Jurrjens.

He is, of course, the ace of their team, and aside from Tommy Hanson, he is the most consistent of the Braves starters.

Jurrjens is currently only 25 years old, and most likely has a few Cy Young awards in his future. He has the best record in the National League, as well as the best ERA, at 1.89.

And the one-hit shutout he pitched last night adds to his value.

I think the contributions he will make to the Braves will be invaluable, and he is worth more than anyone he may be traded for.

2. Julio Teheran

The other main Braves that would be used as trading pieces are Julio Teheran, and other prospects from the Braves amazing farm system.

Julio Teheran, Mike Minor, and Randall Delgado, as well as a few others, come to mind here.

These players are predicted to be at the center of the Braves future team, and have all been ranked as top prospects.

Without these players, who each have the potential to become as great as any other player right now, the future of the Braves would not be quite as positive as it should be.

They, like Jurrjens, should eventually make invaluable contributions to the Braves, and should not be traded.

3. Trade Candidates Are Not Worth as Much as Braves

The main two players that the Braves should be looking at are Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence, both of whom are outfielders for the Houston Astros.

They both have admirable statistics, and will most likely do a fine job filling in the gap in the Braves outfield.

However, at the price of Jair Jurrjens, or a few extremely valuable prospects, I would much prefer to leave Jordan Schafer in center field.

Schafer has recently been playing better, and I have hope that he will continue to do so.

The only player that would be worth trading for, in my opinion, is Matt Kemp, though by what means we would acquire him, I do not know.

4. Braves Offense Is Fine How It Is

The majority of the Braves hitters have recently slumping, which is definitely an issue.

However, I look at it as just a slump, and is only temporary.

The main problems are Uggla and Heyward, both of whom have the potential to carry the team, though they have not yet displayed this. I do have hope, though, that they will begin to hit at the level they were predicted.

Also, Prado and Jones have been battling injuries as of late, and should return in full health shortly.

I do not think the solution to this would be to trade for a player who may improve the Braves offense.

If it is going to improve, I think it will do so by the players displaying their full potential, and not slumping, as they have been.

5. With a Trade, the Braves Lineup Will Not Be Stable

If the Braves were to trade away Jair Jurrjens for a power hitter, while the hitting lineup would look formidable, the starting pitching lineup would be as such:

1. Tommy Hanson

2. Tim Hudson

3. Derek Lowe

4. Brandon Beachy

5. Julio Teheran/Randall Delgado

Neither Teheran nor Delgado are at all ready for a starting role on the Braves pitching staff. Each of them was tested in the majors, and both came out with an 0-1 record. Teheran has a 5.19 ERA, and Delgado has a 6.75 ERA.

If, on the other hand, Teheran and Delgado were traded away, the Braves starting pitching staff would remain as it currently is. However, there would be no one to lean on in case of injury.